Death Clock [Sample]

It's Saturday morning.

“And that was an incredible shot”. Commentator speaks.

A football match is on , my brother watches it carefully like his life depends on it and maybe it does if he bet big again.

I am Scarlett Wilder , a journalist.

Victor Wilder, my only family, my older brother is apparently a divorce lawyer. I say ‘apparently’ because I didn't even know until a friend saw him in court last month.

It's not like I don't like him but he likes money more than anything. After my parent's death, I thought I had a brother who could support me but all he wanted was money.

“You said he would score a lot but it doesn't seem that way.” Victor was talking to someone on call.

I am in my room, just next to the hall , I can hear every noise and Victor doesn't try to lower the volume.

I am still groggy and my head’s heavy after I got drunk yesterday night. The medical report is still on my study table.

I am ready to meet my best friend , Gwen Thompson. I don't tell my brother where I am going and he doesn't even care.

I met Gwen for the first time in my office. She works with me. I did think that she was a crazy brunette at first but then I understood that I need her more than anything , she is the only person who understands me.

I park my car and get inside our favourite cafe.

“You look exhausted? Didn't get enough sleep?” She asks me , sitting on our usual corner table.

“I have something to tell you.” I say , placing my medical report in front of her.

She picks it up , reading everything and I let her without interrupting. After then she stares at me almost like she is going to cry.

“How? When?” She asks still not believing the report and looking at me for signs of any kind of joke.

“I have been experiencing abdominal pain for a long time now but I thought it might be because of our schedule and eating habits. I didn't expect this.”

I am genuinely shocked but the truth is right here.

I have Gastric cancer. Abdominal pain and loss of appetite were some of its symptoms which I ignored and now I have no other option but surgery with fifty percent chances of getting cured.

One thing which I am happy about knowing gastric cancer symptoms is that I wasn't getting fat because of cholesterol but because bloating is another symptom.

“How can you be so carefree after knowing this?” Gwen looks in more pain than me.

“Don't worry Gwen. I am not planning to die anytime soon. I am myself my first priority and I will do anything to save myself.” I say in full confidence.

Because it's true. I will never let myself die. Even if it means I have to do overtime for extra money and no guarantee of getting cured. I can cross any boundary for myself because I am not weak. This is just another one of those tests God takes because he knows my capability.

We talk for hours after which Gwen gets a call from her mom and she tells me to go home and get some rest.

The sun hangs low in the sky, not quite morning, not quite afternoon, its soft gold bleeding through streaks of clouds. I drive along the narrow coastal road, the wind brushing against my windows, water glinting to my right like scattered silver glass. It’s quiet here. Just the hum of the ‘Diet Mountain Dew’ on radio and the rhythmic crash of waves below.

My hands are relaxed on the wheel, eyes tracing the curves of the road ahead. The ocean stretches endlessly beside me. Everything is beautiful, vast, unknowable.

And then..

Out of nowhere, a blur of steel and fury rips into view from a hidden side path.

A car.

It shoots forward, tires screeching, turning wildly onto the road, aiming straight for me. Too fast. There’s no time.

I slam the brakes. Horn blaring.

But it’s too late.

The impact is violent, bone-snapping. Metal against metal, glass exploding like shrapnel stars. The jolt crushes my chest against the belt, snaps my neck sideways. My car spins, lifted, thrown.

Then the world turns blue and upside down.

The ocean rises to meet me like a mouth opening wide.

My car rolls, flips again mid-air, then slams into the rocks and breaks apart like a crushed can. I feel the impact shatter through every inch of me. Spine, ribs, skull everything broken before the water swallows me.

Cold, choking darkness.

No air.

No light.

And then..

Silence.